Switch



June 12, 1956 w. E. BROWN ET AL SWITCH Filed June 24, 1952 J/J/ 44 z z/74 l f Z 77 32 unit] INVENTORS Will/AN 1". BROWN BY KENNETH BOA/0UBANTMm, fmv M, THf/li ATTOHIIEY6 United States Patent SWITCH William E.Brown and Kenneth E. Bondurant, Anderson, Ind., assignors to GeneralMotors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of DelawareApplication June 24, 1952, Serial No. 295,186

2 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) This invention relates to improvements inelectric switches and particularly to relatively small switches of thetrigger or saddle lever type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lever operated switchwhich is actuated to one circuit controlling position by a spring andwhich is moved to another circuit controlling position by the leverloosely pivoted to an actuator for the switch which, on being movedmanually in one direction, cooperates with the switch housing so as toshift the actuator in one direction against the force of the spring.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lever operatedswitch which is moved to one circuit controlling position by a springand is moved to another circuit controlling position by a lever looselypivoted on the actuator for the switch which, on being moved in onedirection of rotation cooperates with the switch housing to shift theactuator in one direction and when the lever is rotated a certainangular movement the lever is latched to the actuator so as to preventmovement of the actuator in the opposite direction by the spring whenthe lever is released. This object is accomplished by having theactuator provided with a transverse notch and having the lever pivotallyattached to the actuator, said lever having cam actuatable when thelever is rotated to cooperate with the housing to shift the actuatorrelative to the housing and having the cam means provided with means forengagement with the notch to hold the crest of the cam in engagementwith the housing to maintain the switch in a selected circuitcontrolling position.

Another object of the invention is to design and construct the actuatorand lever of the switch whereby the lever is limited to one direction ofrotation to shift the actuator to a circuit controlling position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in connection withnon-latching and latching type levers for switches means ofidentification improved arrangement of same and their operatingconnections so that one may determine by the position of the lever as towhether or not a circuit is closed or opened.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing theswitch in the open position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the switch in aclosed position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showingthe lever operating mechanism in its normal position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4-, but showing the lever operatingmechanism in its operative position.

2,750,477 Patented June 12, 1956 Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on anenlarged scale, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing 20 designates a switch housing or body havingoppositely disposed side wings 22. The body 20 in this instance has anexternal reduced portion 24 to provide a shoulder 25. The reducedportion may be externally threaded to receive a clamping nut whichsecures the switch housing to an instrument panel, not shown. In thisinstance reduced threaded portion 24 is adapted to pass through asuitable aperture in the panel until the shoulder engages the rear sideof the panel and the nut being then screwed on the reduced threadedportion 24.

The housing 20 is formed with a non-rounded cavity 30 closed at theupper end by a wall 31 having an elongated opening 32. The cavity 30receives a hollow insulating member or sleeve 33 of molded insulatingmaterial. The member 33 has a non-rounded portion which has the samecontour as the cavity so as to prevent relative rotary movement of themember 33 with respect to the housing 20. The sleeve is formed with areduced nonround portion 35 to form a shoulder 36. The reduced portion35 slidably supports a movable contact element or bridging member 40having its ends bent from the normal plane of contact 40. The contact 40is urged against the shoulder 36 by a compression spring 41 disposedbetween the contact 0 and an insulating washer 42 mounted on a reducedend 4-3 of an actuator or rod 44 which extends through the sleeve 33.The washer 42, in this instance, engages the end of the reduced portionand is held in assembled relation with the rod 44 by a C-washer 45fitting in a perimetrical groove 46 formed in the shaft. The contact 40has a central opening slightly larger in diameter than the reducedportion 35 of sleeve 33. Therefore, there is play between the contact 40and the reduced portion 35 so that force of the spring will bedistributed and contact 40 will engage a pair of spaced stationarycontacts or terminals 50 with substantially equal pressure.

As shown each stationary contact 50 is supported by but insulated from awing 22 so that both contacts are operatively related to the bridgingcontact 40. The contacts 50 are substantially L-shaped to provide arms51 and 52 with the arm 52 deformed at their ends to provide inclinedportions to be engaged by the inclined portions of the movable contact40. The arms 52 are insulated from the support by a fiber insulatingplate 53 having a central opening therein through which the sleeve 33passes. The opposite ends of the plate are notched to extend betweenspaced depending lugs or side portions 22 provided by the wing. One ofthese lugs is shown in elevation in Fig. 2. Each stationary contact 50is fixed to the support by a screw .55 which is insulated from the arm52 by an insulating tube which fits in apertures provided by the plate53, arm 52 and an insulating washer 56. A plane washer and a lock washercooperate with the screws 55 to maintain the parts 56, 50 and 53 inassembled relation with the respective wings 22. Each washer is disposedbetween the depending lugs of portions 22 to prevent same from turningrelative to the wings. Each washer 56 is provided with a notch toreceive the arm 51 which prevents the contact from turning relative tothe washer 56.

The reduced portion 43 of rod or actuator 44 has a sliding fit withinthe sleeve but has its upper end provided with flats 60 cooperating withthe fiat sides of the elongated opening 32 in the wall 31 so as toprevent relative rotary movement of the rod. The upper end of the rodwhich has the flats 60 is provided with a transverse notch 61 the upperwall of which is provided with a concave seat 62. A rounded cam portion63 is provided adjacent the outer end of the notch. The flattenedportion of the rod is also provided with an aperture 65 adapted toreceive a pivot pin 66 of smaller diameter than the openings. Therefore,there is play between the aperture 65 and the pivot pin 66 which willallow the rod to move in a straight line when actuated.

A lever 7 it is mounted on the pivot pin 66. This lever is formed toprovide a saddle portion at one end. This saddle portion is U-shaped intransverse vertical cross section and comprises parallel depending sideor cam portions 71 interconnected by a yoke or stop portion 72. The yoke72 is extended to provide a finger grip 73. The lever is mounted in astraddling relation to the flats 60 of the rod 4d and is afforded apivotal support by the pivot pin 66 which extends through alignedopenings formed in the cam or side portions 71 of the lever and throughthe opening 65 in the rod. The pin has a head at one end and bearsagainst the outer surface of one side portion and the opposite end isupset over the outer face of the other side portion thereby beingsecured against axial movement.

In the illustration shown in the drawing the side or cam portions areprovided with additional aligned openings for receiving a pin '75 andwhich is secured to the side portions in a manner similar to thatdescribed for pin 66.

As shown in Fig. 2, the switch is in its off position. The rod 44 ismoved to the left position due to the bias of compression spring 74which acts on the rod through the sleeve 33. The rod is limited in itsmovement to the left by an end or edge 76 of the yoke 72 engaging aninsulating washer '77 attached to the other surface of the Wall 31 byrivets 78. The washer is made of nylon in this instance for itslubricating qualities. As will be appreciated the lever 7t can not bemoved in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2to actuate the rod. Should the attempt be made to move the lever in aclockwise direction the yoke 72 will engage the rod 44, therefore theyoke 72 acts as a stop to limit the counterclockwise direction of thelever 7 0.

When the lever is moved in a clockwise direction from the position shownin Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 against the bias of compression spring74 the cam portions 71 will engage the nylon disc 77. This initialmovement of the lever will cause the pin to take up the play thereofwithin the opening 65 and then to engage the opposite wall of theopening and move the rod to the right. When the lever is moved in aclockwise direction the cams slide on the nylon disc. After the levermoves a certain angular distance the cross pin 75 will first engage thecam portion 63 on the rod and then move into the transverse notch untilthe pin engages the back wall of the notch to limit the clockwisemovement of the lever. In this position the cam portions 71 have reachedtheir crests and cause the pin to enter the seat. Before the cams reachtheir crests the movable contact 40 will bridge the stationary contacts58 to complete a circuit. This causes the sleeve 35 to move relative tothe movable contact 40 to compress the spring 41 in order to protect themovable contact from injurious effects in case the operator exerts anexceedingly strong force to actuate the lever. It is also pointed outthat by compressing the spring 41 a good contact engagement is assuredbetween the contacts.

Upon release of the force which actuates the lever 7f the spring 74-tends to move the rod to the left but the cross pin 75 prevents the rod44 from moving to the left due to the fact the pin rests in the seat. Asa result the movable contact 40 is maintained in contact engagement withthe stationary contacts 56 In order to release the actuator for movementby the spring 74 to open the switch, the lever must be actuated in acounterclockwise direction to remove the pin from the seat and thespring 74 effects return of the switch to the circuit open position asshown in Fig. 2.

If it is desired the movable contact and the stationary contacts couldbe rearranged to provide a switch arrangement whereby the switch isclosed by the spring and is opened by actuating the lever.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, a housing; an actuator slidable in thehousing, said actuator having a transverse notch adjacent one end;stationary contacts supported by the housing; a movable contact on theactuator engageable with the stationary contacts; a lever pivotallyattached to t e actuator, said lever having cam means actuatable whenthe lever is rotated to cooperate with the housing to move the actuatorwithin the housing; and means carried by the cam means for engagementwith the notch to hold the cam crest in engagement with the housing tomaintain the switch in selected circuit controlling position.

2. An electric switch comprising, a housing; an actuator slidable in thehousing; stationary contacts carried by the housing; a bridging elementon the actuator engageable with the stationary contacts; a leverpivotally attached to the actuator, said lever having a normal posi=tion with respect to the actuator and said lever having a portionadapted to engage the actuator, when it is attempted to move the leverin one direction from its normal position, to prevent movement of thelever in such direction, and said lever having a cam actuatable, whenthe lever rotates in the opposite direction from its normal position, tocooperate with the housing to move the actuator within the housing fromits normal position and means effective to hold the actuator in theposition to which it is moved including a notch in the actuator and alatch member on said operating lever engageable with said notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS485,028 Binswanger Oct. 25, 1892 1,265,197 Hawes May 7, 1918 1,370,189Cohen Mar. 1, 1921 1,798,896 Obermaier Mar. 31, 1931 1,912,949 MillerJune 6, 1933

